The Legislative-Meat Famine of 2010

Below is an editorial on today's rather lean House session. I think that it's important to point out some of the work we could be doing on a day that the House of Representatives convenes to take up a single item like this Potato Resolution.

There is also a cost to convening the House. Sergeants, clerks, pages all must be on duty when the House is in session, not to mention that each representative had to spend an extra night in a Lansing hotel or make a round-trip from home to sit through this one vote session.

Granted, the speech declaring potatoes as an economical food source was quite inspiring, I'm not convinced that the session itself was all that cost-effective. Here's the article following today's self-indulgent session of the House:

Dems offer 'potatoes' but where's the meat?
GOP reforms languish in Democrat-controlled House for 3,169 days

While Michigan's jobless rate continues to hover at a nation-leading 15 percent, majority House Democrats today wrapped up a 'long' and 'arduous' week of work on behalf of the people of Michigan with the only item on the day's legislative agenda: a resolution supporting Michigan potatoes.

In addition, as House Democrats continue to turn a deaf ear to the jobs crisis gripping Michigan families, needed common sense government reforms sponsored by House Republicans languish in Democrat-controlled committees. In all, Republican reform proposals have gone 3,169 days without so much as a public hearing.

"We love our potatoes and we love our potato farmers, but where's the meat to go with all these potatoes Democrats keep serving us," asked House Republican Leader Kevin Elsenheimer. "We are in the worst recession since the Great Depression, have a nation-leading unemployment rate, and a budget deficit in the billions. House Republicans are ready and willing to work with the Democrats to move Michigan forward but Democrats need to show us they are willing to seriously consider needed reforms and not just pay us lip service."

Noted state Rep. Pete Lund, R-Shelby Township: "House Democrats are offering us small potatoes when it comes to the reforms we need to move Michigan forward. Michigan has lost 584,460 jobs since Democrats controlled the agenda in Lansing and I can tell you the last thing the people of Michigan expect of us is to waste our time on meaningless resolutions in support of someone's pet project of the day."

Elsenheimer noted there is no shortage of ideas to get Michigan back to work, citing the recent House Republican Jobs Task Force findings, as well as the governor's 29-point reform plan -- many of which long have been on the Republican agenda.

House Republicans have been upfront and public about their proposed reforms and were encouraged when many of their proposals were embraced by Governor Granholm. Yet Republicans are dismayed by the lack of bipartisan cooperation on the part of House Democrats, who have so far refused to consider Republican-sponsored reforms.

This week, House Republicans reiterated their call for reforms and formally asked Democrat committee chairs to hold hearings on their reforms. Below are the reforms which GOP lawmakers have personally called on each committee chair to move:

Republican Government Reforms Days held up in a Democrat-Controlled Committee

Reduce costs by providing state and public employees incentives to retire (Rep. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge: House Bills 5449 and 4813 of 2010, HBs 4005 and 4571 of 2007)
1,122 days without action

Medicaid Inspector General to fight abuse and save taxpayer funding (Rep. Bob Genetski, R-Saugatuck: HB 5542) 120 days without action

Shift to a two-year budget cycle (Rep. John Proos, R-St. Joseph: House Concurrent Resolution 15) 330 days without action

Improving the state budgeting process: (Reps. Bill Rogers, R-Brighton: House Joint Resolution HH, Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive: HJR JJ, and Larry DeShazor, R-Portage: HJR LL)
At least 113 days without action

Increase state employee participation and maintain health care by increasing employee contribution (Reps. Dave Agema, R-Grandville, and Dave Hildebrand, R-Lowell: HBs 5624 and 5638) 79 days without action

Move all teachers to defined contribution plan (Rogers: HB 4527) 345 days without action

Require a complete fiscal analysis of any legislation (Rep. Gail Haines, R-Waterford: HB 5766) 23 days without action

Eliminate lifetime health care for lawmakers (Reps. Marty Knollenberg, R-Troy, Brian Calley, R-Portland, and Jones: HBs 4080, 4133 and 5019 of 2009 and HB 4558 of 2007) [*] 1,039 days before action

A tax hike is a tax hike is a tax hike | detnews.com | The Detroit News

A tax hike is a tax hike is a tax hike | detnews.com | The Detroit News

An Open Letter to 2010 GOP Gubernatorial Candidates

From Michigan 94^th District State Representative Ken Horn

Expectations of toughness, intelligence and great integrity

Now, I’m just one guy in a state of ten million people, so I suppose you need to take what I say with a grain of salt. I just happen to represent about 90,000 in the House of Representatives, and I’m still looking for the right person to endorse for governor. Michigan needs someone who’ll tell it like it is, and lay out a new vision that will inspire confidence that Michigan will be a better place with their leadership.

I’m looking for a person that can lay out, from A-Z, a plan to straighten out this terrible state budget problem we’ve being facing for a decade. I want someone who knows that the state’s economy is bigger than Lansing, on the other hand, and can fix itself if we simply get government out of the way. This means, of course, a strong leash on state agencies, and boat load of freedom for citizens and entrepreneurs.

While I have been searching for just this effectiveness, I’m also measuring for character. I’m looking for someone who is tough, but doesn’t believe that chivalry is dead. I’m looking for wisdom, tempered with great humility. I want someone who likes people, and takes offense when a harsh word is spoken about Michiganders, even if that person is a political opponent. (Let me say this; I’ve seen some awful political ads lately, which inspired me to write. I’ve met each of the GOP candidates, and they are all very fine and decent men. They deserve to be supported, not attacked. The ads should be denounced, and groups associated with the recent ads against them should be rebuked.)

Negative ads do nothing positive for our great state, even as they might helpful to individual candidates. If you want my support, however, and if you’re asking for the votes of my constituents, each of you must tell us what, precisely, you intend to do. Don’t ballyhoo your opponent’s weaknesses; tell us who you are and what your plans are to fix what’s broken.

I’ve been elected since 1992 and I’m no Pollyanna. I recognize that politics is a rough and tumble business. Men and women who throw their hat into ring deserve much respect, regardless of party. They are gladiators in a battle to make Michigan better. As competitors, when they fall, it is our obligation to pick them up, dust them off and send them back into the fray. Otherwise, what message does it send to voters, as we are pledging to help average Michiganders through some of the very roughest times?

To me, this notion is actually bigger than Ronald Reagan’s 11^th Commandment, “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican”. I don’t believe we should be speaking ill of any Michigan citizen; republican, democrat, or independent. They are citizens and residents after all, and they deserve our respect. And… oh, by the way… they do own this government!

Again, I’m no Pollyanna. But, there’s something to be said for holding on very tightly to our honor. I’ve turned down awful lot of money from folks that wanted to help my campaign, but wanted desperately to go negative in my ads. I refused them, saying that I would rather lose my race then lose my integrity. I expect the same from my gubernatorial candidates!

It will be a tough choice to make with so many top tier GOP contenders to pick from. Each has their own qualities that make them great candidates for Michigan government’s top job.

Here are some my criteria for what makes a good governor:

· Have a strong vision for Michigan: Tell us from A-Z, in kitchen table terms, what you plan to do

· Diversity of Thought: If you’re simply looking for “Yes” people to join your team, you’re walking down the wrong path

· Transparency: We need to know what you’re doing, and why

· Humility: know that you serve the People, and by God, serve them!

· Speak of Justice: Justice for all, but especially for young children, people with disabilities, and frail elderly. Where we can, we need to protect the weakest among us from life’s true predators

· Protect Civil Liberties: Our civil liberties protect us from improper government. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of property: don’t forget this, in everything that you do

· Effectiveness and efficiency: You’ll be the biggest part of our government, how will you make it better

· Honor: Throughout the campaign and in the governor’s office, I fully expect that you will take responsibility for things that swirl about you. Give credit where credit is due, and don’t blame others and point fingers when things don’t go your way.

All of these things, and more, speak of true leadership, which Michigan so desperately needs. The upcoming months will be extremely difficult, as you move along the campaign trail. The hours will be brutal and the weight of Michigan’s problems will begin to settle on your shoulders. We can help lift that burden, as you show us that you can be the governor that Michigan needs today.

Good luck to all

Ken Horn

Here are the 28 points that the governor is expected to propose for the upcoming year. Written in bold is the general idea, followed by a brief description. Underneath, in blue, are the actions that have already taken place or about to take place.

There is nothing earth-shattering in these ideas. Many ideas will make sense to you, while the overall impact will leave Michigan well short of balancing the 2010 budget.

I will update this blog after the State of the State Address to see how closely these proposed ideas will resemble the speech. I will also weigh in on the relevancy of each proposal, describing which ideas are sound and which need to be scrapped.

So… until tonight's address enjoy this light bit of reading:

2010 State of State Key Points
Governor Granholm's 28 anticipated proposals for the upcoming year

Proposal 1. End Lifetime Health Care for Legislators.
Amend the Legislative Retirement System Act to end the provision of free lifetime health care benefits to legislators with 6 years of service at age 55 for all legislators first elected after December 31, 2006.
HB 4194 (Slavens) Just passed. See also HB 4580 of 2007 (Dean). Passed House 107-2 on 05/23/2007.

Proposal 2. State Employee Retirement Savings.
Amend the State Employees’ Retirement Act to assure adequate funding for defined benefit retirement system, encourage retirement of eligible state employees with retirement benefit changes by October 1, 2010, restrict replacement hires, and authorize phased retirement allowing eligible employees to retire but continue working up to 20 hours per week for up to 3 years.
See FY 2010-2011 Executive Budget presentation on 02/11/2010 for details

Proposal 3. Lower-Cost Health Care for New State Employees.
Negotiate and/or implement a lower-cost health care plan for new state employees, reducing state costs by 21%.
See FY 2010-2011 Executive Budget presentation on 02/11/2010, ratified agreement with SEIU Local 517M, and tentative agreement with Michigan Corrections Organization.

Proposal 4. Reduce Prison Expenditures.
Modify prison policies to bring prisoner time served and Corrections costs in line with other Midwestern states.
SB 826 (Cropsey), SB 827 (Cropsey), 4130 (Smith). Passed House 106-0 on 09/16/2009. HB 4497 (Cushingberry) HB 4498 (Cushingberry) HB 4499 (Cushingberry) HB 4509 (Meadows). Passed House 88-21 on 03/26/2009. HB 4510 (R. Jones). Passed House 87-22 on 03/26/2009.

Proposal 5. Recover Additional Medicaid Dollars.
Join 49 other states to end immunity for prescription drug manufacturers who produce harmful products that injure patients to enable the recovery of state Medicaid expenditures when Medicaid recipients recover damages from prescription drug manufacturers resulting from harmful prescription drugs.
HB 4316 (L. Brown). Passed House 61-48 on 03/26/2009. HB 4317. (Kennedy). Passed House 56-53 on 03/26/2009. HB 4318 (Slavens). Passed
House 61-48 on 03/26/2009.

Proposal 6. Medicaid Inspector General.

Establish an independent Office of Health Services Inspector General within the Department of Community Health to identify Medicaid waste and fraud and recover Medicaid dollars for taxpayers.
See FY 2010-2011 Executive Budget presentation on 02/11/2010. 1g. Executive Branch Streamlining. Further reduce the Future executive orders.


Proposal 7. Require Local Competitive Bidding.
Amend the Revised School Code and local government statutes to mandate competitive bidding for local government and school contracts exceeding $50,000 as mandated for state contracts.
Draft legislation pending at Legislative Service Bureau.

Proposal 8. School Employee Retirement Savings.
Amend the Public School Employees Retirement Act to assure adequate funding for defined benefit retirement system for school employees, encourage retirement of eligible school employees with retirement benefit changes by October 1, 2010.
See FY 2010-2011 Executive Budget presentation on 02/11/2010.

Proposal 9. Lower-Cost Retirement Plan for New Teachers.
Establish a new lower-cost hybrid defined benefit/defined contribution retirement system for new school employees. Amend the State School Aid Act to require all public schools to develop and submit an administrative service sharing and consolidation plan to the Department of Education for review and approval.
See FY 2010-2011 Executive Budget presentation on 02/11/2010. Proposal 10 - School Service Sharing and Consolidation. Draft legislation pending at Legislative Service Bureau.

Proposal 11. Expanded Participation in State Health Plan.

Allow local governments, schools, and their employees to voluntary purchase health care benefits through the state health care plan.
See Civil Service Commission Rule 5-11.1(e)(2) and future executive directive.

Proposal 12. Arbitration Efficiency.

Amend Public Act 312 of 1969 to streamline the arbitration process for police officers and firefighters for greater efficiency and cost savings.
Draft legislation pending at Legislative Service Bureau.

Proposal 13. Intergovernmental Cooperation and Consolidation.

Amend the Urban Cooperation Act and other intergovernmental cooperation laws to clarify that nothing in the laws require government employers to pay employees the highest wages and benefits paid prior to a government consolidation. Amend the Michigan Election Law and laws relating to counties to allow elimination of county road commissions and enable multi-county election of drain commissioners.
Draft legislation pending at Legislative Service Bureau.

Proposal 14. Reducing School and Local Election Costs.
Amend the Michigan Election Law to streamline and reduce elections costs by: (i) authorizing no-excuse absentee voting; (ii) enabling on-line voter registration; (iii) requiring local, school, and special elections not held in August or November to be conducted by mail only; and (iv) authorizing instant run-off voting for nonpartisan local elections. Mandate financial disclosure for state elected officials and candidates as in 47 other states.
HB 4367 (Stanley). Passed House 79-30 on 04/30/2009. HB 4539 (Liss). Passed House 68-36 on 12/17/2009. HB 4540 (Liss). Passed House 68-36 on 12/17/2009. And draft legislation pending at Legislative Service Bureau. Proposal 15. Financial Disclosure. HB 4381 (Ebli). Passed House 81-28 on 03/25/2009.

Proposal 15. Financial Disclosure.

Mandate financial disclosure for state elected officials andcandidates as in 47 other states.

HB 4381 (Ebli). Passed House81-28 on 03/25/2009.

Proposal 16. Honoraria Ban.
Extend ban on honoraria to include all elected officials. Currently ban applies only to legislators.
Draft legislation pending at Legislative Service Bureau (see 04824’05 and 04825’’06)

Proposal 17. Political Contribution-Free Zones.
Prohibit the solicitation or receipt of political contributions in government buildings.
Draft legislation pending at Legislative Service Bureau (see 04829’05 and 04827’05).

Proposal 18. Legislative Ethics.

Enhance ethics & conflict of interest requirements for legislators.
Draft legislation pending at Legislative Service Bureau (see 04822’05)

Proposal 19. Executive Branch Ethics.
Enhance ethics and conflict of interest requirements for executive branch officials, including state contract managers.
Draft legislation pending at Legislative Service Bureau (see 04826’05 and )

Proposal 20. Restricting Corporate Campaign Influence.
Amend the Michigan Campaign Finance Act to regulate unrestricted political advocacy by corporations, including instant reporting requirements, restrictions on activity funded by foreign nationals or foreign entities, shareholder approval of corporate expenditure, and disclaimers on political advertisements funded by corporations.
Draft legislation pending at Legislative Service Bureau.

Proposal 21. 2-year Budget.
Amend the Michigan Constitution to require a 2-year budget cycle for state government.
HJR SS (Dillon)

Proposal 22. Complete Budget by July 1.
Amend the Michigan Constitution to require completion by July 1 of legislative action on the state budget and all implementing legislation or dock the pay of governor, lieutenant governor, and legislators when not complete by July 1 deadline.
HJR LL (DeShazor)

Proposal 23. Tax Expenditure Review.
Amend the Michigan Constitution and Management and Budget Act to require review and reauthorization of tax expenditures in second year of each two-year budget cycle, while allowing job providers that rely on long-term tax credits for job attraction on Michigan to continue to rely on those economic development credits.
See FY 2010-2011 Executive Budget presentation on 02/11/2010.

Proposal 24. Pay-As-You-Go Budgeting.
Amend the Michigan Constitution and Management and Budget Act to institute pay-as-you-go requirements for new budget and tax expenditures.
See FY 2010-2011 Executive Budget presentation on 02/11/2010.

Proposal 25. Fiscal Impact Notes.
Amend the Michigan Constitution, Legislative Council Act, and Management and Budget Act to require presentation of fiscal notes estimating financial and compliance costs of legislation by a legislative fiscal agency before approval by a legislative chamber. Require similar fiscal impact notes as part of administrative rule promulgation process.
See FY 2010-2011 Executive Budget presentation on 02/11/2010.

Proposal 26. Audit of State Contracts.
Require an annual audit of state contractual expenditures to identify excess spending, overuse, overcharges, and inefficiencies.
See Executive Directive 2009-3 and future executive directive.

Proposal 27. Enhance Revenue/Expenditure Projections.
Amend the Management and Budget Act to require three consensus revenue-estimating conferences per year in January, May, and September, mandating consultation with non-governmental economists/forecasters. Conference would adopt revenue projections for 2-year budget cycle, transportation-related revenues, and expenditure estimates for major spending areas including Medicaid caseloads/spending, human services caseloads/spending, prisoner populations, and school pupil counts. Include 10-year projection in each 2-year budget proposal.
See FY 2010-2011 Executive Budget presentation on 02/11/2010.

Proposal 28. Timely Book Closing.
Amend the Management and Budget Act to require the closing of books for a fiscal period by December 31 to provide final revenue and expenditure numbers for consensus revenue conference and executive budget presentation.
See FY 2010-2011 Executive Budget presentation on 02/11/2010.

Bell on the Floor

I had a chance to meet this young man on the Floor of the House of Representatives. Joique Bell seems to be very humble, and certainly NFL worthy.

WSU back Joique Bell eager to prove he's NFL-worthy detnews.com The Detroit News